Evidence 101 (Part 2): Applying the Rules in Real Time
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Speaker : MICHAEL DEBLIS
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When : Tuesday, November 18, 2025
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Time : 01 : 00 PM EST
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Michael is a trial lawyer. He graduated Cum Laude from The Thomas M. Cooley Law School and Summa Cum Laude from the Thomas Jefferson School of Law with his Masters of Law in Taxation. Michael is known for his charismatic personality and his unyielding dedication to his clients.
Michael spent the first six years of his legal career as a public defender in the NJ Office of the Public Defender cutting his teeth on some of the most serious felony cases to pass through the state courts of New Jersey. He then joined his father's law practice, DeBlis Law, expanding the practice into civil tax controversies and international tax compliance.
As a graduate of the National Criminal Defense College, Michael has trained under some of the best-known criminal defense attorneys in the country. When he's not in the courtroom, you can find Michael on stage. He is a professionally-trained actor who has performed in off-Broadway productions and on-stage at Shakespeare in the Park. Michael's passionate about helping trial lawyers harness the power of persuasion and positive communication in the courtroom in order to connect to the jury on a human level.
Michael's training as an actor allows him to combine a unique blend of left-brain thinking with right brain artistry to make even the most dull and abstract areas of the law come to life. Michael is a prolific writer and a frequent lecturer at CLE and CPE programs throughout the country. He has written articles that have been featured in leading tax journals and "Law 360."
Michael is a living example of the tremendous power that comes from combining passion, preparation, persuasion, and positive communication in the courtroom. His courage and relentless work ethic have earned him a reputation as a zealous advocate and one of New Jersey’s rising stars of the legal profession.
Evidentiary rulings can shape the entire trajectory of a trial. In Part 2 of this essential series, we move beyond foundational knowledge and dive into the application of evidence rules in active litigation, focusing on high-stakes moments when objections fly and decisions must be made in seconds.
You'll explore the rules of evidence through interactive hypotheticals, pulled from real-world scenarios, giving you a chance to anticipate and respond to evidentiary issues in the heat of trial. We'll revisit core concepts like relevance, hearsay, authentication, and impeachment, and examine how judges apply these rules under pressure.
This session will help you become not just a student of evidence, but a strategic practitioner—someone who uses the rules proactively to shape what the jury sees and hears, preserve issues for appeal, and control the flow of the trial.
Learning Objectives
- How judges evaluate motions in limine, objections, and offers of proof
- Crafting strategic objections that preserve the record and sway the jury
- Using evidence rules as an offensive and defensive tool
- How to spot relevance and prejudice issues quickly and respond with confidence
- Deep dive into hearsay exceptions that commonly arise—and how to argue for or against admission
- How to lay the proper foundation for exhibits and digital evidence
- Strategies for introducing character evidence without crossing ethical lines
- When and how to impeach a witness using prior inconsistent statements and bias
- The art of anticipating opposing counsel’s evidentiary strategy and neutralizing it
- Key differences between civil and criminal evidentiary issues
- Preserving objections for appeal without alienating the judge or jury
Areas Covered
- Trial Evidence and Procedure
- Objection Techniques and Legal Argumentation
- Criminal and Civil Litigation Practice
- Evidence Law Applied in Storytelling and Persuasion
- Jury Trial Strategy and Tactical Presentation
Who Should Attend
- Trial Lawyers
- Criminal Defense Attorneys
- Civil Litigators
- Personal Injury Attorneys
- ADR and Arbitration Attorneys
- Law Students and Clerks preparing for trial work
Why Should You Attend
Knowing the rules of evidence isn't enough—you must know when and how to apply them in real time. In the courtroom, the pace is fast, the stakes are high, and your ability to act quickly and accurately on evidentiary issues can determine whether crucial evidence is admitted or excluded.
This webinar helps you bridge the gap between knowledge and courtroom agility, using practical examples to prepare you for the unexpected. With a focus on mental shortcuts, pattern recognition, and tactical responses, you'll be able to think on your feet and control the evidentiary narrative at trial.
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$160.00
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